Aussies miss out in the first round
Australian prospects Rocco Zikarsky, Alex Toohey, Tyrese Proctor and Lachlan Olbrich will find out their draft fate on Friday after being passed over in the first round.
The downside of not hearing their names called on Thursday is that they missed out on the guaranteed contracts that go to the first-round picks.
Australian draft prospect Rocco Zikarsky.Credit: Getty Images
Most mock drafts predicted the players would be selected in the second round and, if selected, their NBA rights would be tied to that franchise and they could be told to remain overseas until called upon.
If they are passed over completely, it could open up more options, as any of the NBAโs 30 teams could offer them a two-way contract, guaranteed contract or an exhibit-10 deal โ effectively a non-guaranteed pre-season contract to try out for a team.
Zikarsky and Toohey were NBL Next Star players with Brisbane Bullets and Sydney Kings respectively, while Olbrich won the NBL championship with Illawarra Hawks.
Proctor played with Duke University in US college basketball, where three of his teammates, including Flagg, were selected in the top 10.
ESPN will show Fridayโs second round of the draft from 10am AEST. It will be available on Foxtel, Kayo and Disney Plus.
In the name of the brothers
Duke guard Kon Knueppel headed to Charlotte Hornets with pick four, followed by Rutgers guard Ace Bailey to the Utah Jazz and Texas guard Tre Johnson, who joined the Washington Wizards with pick six.
Knueppel is the oldest of five brothers from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, all of whom have names starting with โKโ: Kager, Kingston, Kash and Kidman. All five appeared on the ESPN broadcast of the draft and all are aspiring basketballers.
Tears of joy
South Sudanese centre Khaman Maluach greeted Silver with tears streaming down his face when he was picked by the Houston Rockets with the 10th selection.
Maluach, who also played for South Sudan at Paris 2024, had his draft rights traded to the Phoenix Suns as his selection was a part of the recently announced Kevin Durant trade.
โMy dreams, believing in myself that Iโm going to make it to the NBA one day, now Iโm here at the NBA draft and just got drafted,โ Maluach told ESPN.
Khaman Maluach reacts as he greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted.Credit: AP
โIโm here representing the whole continent of Africa, I had the whole continent on my back โ inspiring young kids and the next generation of players.โ
Maluach was the third Duke University player selected in the first 10 picks.
The New Orleans Pelicans, who will play two pre-season games in Melbourne against NBL clubs later this year, picked Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears, who will likely make his debut in Pelicans colours at Rod Laver Arena.
Chinese centre Yang Hansen was a surprise early selection by Memphis Grizzlies at number 16, and his draft rights were traded to Portland Trail Blazers.
The LA Clippers used the 30th pick on Swiss seven-footer Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
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